tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3715631332868685599..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Lots of spec pilots are selling. What does it mean?By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31502316390830154172011-01-26T00:51:02.905-08:002011-01-26T00:51:02.905-08:00Interesting. It is good to know that even at the t...Interesting. It is good to know that even at the top the struggle continues. And of course this would not neccesarily repeat itself. Keep the creative juices flowing and know you are well appreciatedBUSOLA ELEGBEDEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09704435411876764687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35803796303885148902011-01-25T09:48:46.952-08:002011-01-25T09:48:46.952-08:00This is good news to me as I am sitting on a gold ...This is good news to me as I am sitting on a gold mine of specs. <br /><br />Now, all I need is to find someone to read them.joehttp://basiccivilization.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6424273007982070152011-01-25T01:30:13.316-08:002011-01-25T01:30:13.316-08:00The fact is the business model has already changed...The fact is the business model has already changed, and traditional broadcasters haven't learned from the collapse of the music industry. People are already sick of broadcast Television as an entertainment delivery system. They are already recording/downloading what they want from where they can get it, because the broadcasters aren't meeting their needs. <br /><br />Our needs, I suppose I should say.<br /><br />As a result, broadcast revenues are going down, and fewer shows are given the development incubation time they need. So there is a certain desperation to get something and hope the shotgun approach will work. Fact is, there's an audience for a lot of series that haven't made it past a first season, or even a pilot because the distribution isn't reaching the people interested, or the feedback isn't going to the broadcasters. There are so many examples of this, if I were to list them, it would take hours. <br /><br />Broadcasters need to wake up, learn from the death of the music industry, and realize we're not living in 1975 any more.Phillip Stamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14966451192326331485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34907765193432092742011-01-24T19:24:44.831-08:002011-01-24T19:24:44.831-08:00Friday question:
How hard (or easy) is it to keep...Friday question:<br /><br />How hard (or easy) is it to keep a character's voice out of other characters? For example, in the opening scene of the Social Network, when Mark and Erica are talking, I could easily hear that as Sam and CJ on The West Wing, Dana and Casey in Sports Night or even Matt and Harriet on Studio 60. (This is not a criticism of Aaron Sorkin, by the way. I love that his characters have the same "Sorkin style" in the same way that each of his television shows contain the episode "What Kind Of Day Has It Been?" <br /><br />How did you keep Sam Malone from sounding like Hawkeye or keep Helen from sounding like Diane?Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107309396839340695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13577091527790852662011-01-24T16:38:29.653-08:002011-01-24T16:38:29.653-08:00What do these "development" people do al...What do these "development" people do all day? Prime time is three hours of programming a night. Two if you're Fox. Give J.J. Abrams and Ken Levine and Matt Weiner and Aaron Sorkin free rein and see what they come up with and don't bother them.<br /><br />For every Studio 60 (sorry, Mr. Sorkin, I know you read here sometimes) you're going to come up with a West Wing. Your batting average is going to go 'way up.<br /><br />I'd say a network programming dept. should be one person and an assistant. Get rid of the "developers" and find that one person that knows quality and talent.<br /><br />I know it won't happen. But a boy's got to have a dream.Dave Creekhttp://www.davecreek.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13516507019117389472011-01-24T14:39:13.323-08:002011-01-24T14:39:13.323-08:00Is it possible this is being done to get around th...Is it possible this is being done to get around the writer's union or maybe is saving money by downsizing the number of development executives (with the associated benefits packages)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57164076684468796612011-01-24T13:30:24.697-08:002011-01-24T13:30:24.697-08:00Hey Ken,
So how do development execs get hired an...Hey Ken,<br /><br />So how do development execs get hired anyway? Do they come from drama schools, or business schools (or is it one of those "work your way up from the mailroom" things)?<br /><br />You'd think the sort of people who go into the profession would be creative and possibly talented themselves. Do they get this beaten out of them by the demands of the job over time? Or is it a variation on "those who can't do, teach"? (I.e., "those who can't write become TV executives"?)BigTednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27977354716822532902011-01-24T12:14:47.639-08:002011-01-24T12:14:47.639-08:00Would a spec pilot be totally US focussed and a do...Would a spec pilot be totally US focussed and a documentary? I am trying to launch Primrose HIll London UK's Violeta B's comic reboot at 51 and thought the US would like to see a snapshot of the vailant heroine, Primrose village, it's celebrities and non-Gervais humour of it's inhabitants. Really no idea how to market it in the US.<br />http://violetabrebootsherlifesingleagainat51.blogspot.com/ Your advice appreciated.Reboot Expert https://www.blogger.com/profile/14486384590718591934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65950212601483739682011-01-24T11:40:03.146-08:002011-01-24T11:40:03.146-08:00You know far better (and more) than I probably wil...You know far better (and more) than I probably will on my deathbed, so I trust your call, but I do think the system is a bust.<br /><br />I'm not business-minded, so I respect those who are, but few of them are creatively-inclined and part of the problem (as I see it) is just what you noted: All the interference with the product.<br /><br />Few concepts/products are going to hit every note with every viewer, but instead of dumbing-down the product to appeal to larger audiences (though I grant this is OK, even necessary, to a certain extent), why not accept that some product is aimed at a specific demographic or whatever and roll with it on those grounds?<br /><br />As always, love and am constantly inspired by your help. Many thanks and please continue!Manodogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362585939645849627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39020947044563435702011-01-24T11:38:58.103-08:002011-01-24T11:38:58.103-08:00The solution is obviously tax cuts for corporation...The solution is obviously tax cuts for corporations and high income individuals... <br /><br />Seriously (as if my opinion mattered) there have been attempts to break down the traditional business model over the years (spin-offs, stage shows, internet television, 8 minute pilots, story boarding, et. al.) but none seems to have taken hold. <br /><br />This may be a break in the glass wall of "unscripted" shows and a recognition that younger viewers really do like the sitcom. We'll know something is really falling apart when someone odd gets the green light to develop a variety show (like Terrell Owens, Andy Dick or Meatloaf - perhaps on the same show.)Phillip Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498595633633248863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31665128629906160232011-01-24T10:40:59.529-08:002011-01-24T10:40:59.529-08:00Does this extreme "hands-on" approach ap...Does this extreme "hands-on" approach apply only to the four broadcast networks, or are cable channels getting in the act as well? (And if so, does the degree of their involvement tend to be any different?) <br /><br />For example, had "Hot In Cleveland" been shopped to ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC (I can't imagine CW would have been interested), would their executives have had more meddling, er, <i>input</i> than the people at TV Land seem to have had?VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32238592344734266392011-01-24T09:02:50.799-08:002011-01-24T09:02:50.799-08:00I posted something that involved listening to audi...I posted something that involved listening to audio but the audio wouldn't work so I pulled it. Sorry 'bout dat.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25290530581434297372011-01-24T08:54:03.754-08:002011-01-24T08:54:03.754-08:00Very interesting. But seriously, on my Blogger fe...Very interesting. But seriously, on my Blogger feed, I had some Sarah Palin thing forthcoming for several hours from you, until you posted this item. I'm so confused.Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.com